Why I Started TIFFAN.org

This is part 7 of an 8-part blog from the perspective of TIFFAN's Founder and "The Nanny Manual" author, Alyce Desrosiers.

After over 20 years working with parents and nannies, with other childcare professionals and keeping informed on research the importance of the early years in a child’s development, I’ve recognized just how important it is for parents and nannies to get the support they need to ensure the children they are caring for receive the best care possible. At the same time, there is no recognition about nannying and nannies remain the silent members of the childcare workforce. While the International Nanny Association, the umbrella organization of the nanny industry has done a remarkable job supporting nannies they also receive little recognition among their peers in the industry; the National Association of the Education of the Young Child, for example. Millions of taxpayer dollars go to provide job training, research, education, and support to preschool teachers and family day care providers – and rightfully so – but none goes to nannies. They are the unlicensed and unregulated segment and not recognized. This is an abdication of responsibility for the government and those organizations responsible to ensure our youngest children get the best care possible.

TIFFAN’s mission is to establish a recognizable standard of care for the nanny industry and best practices for parents and nannies to ensure quality care. In my next blog, I will discuss the vision for TIFFAN's future and some specifics of our responsibilities.